Caste system in India

thumb| Representation of the varna system hierarchy, depicting Brahmins (priests) at the highest level and Dalits (historically marginalized as untouchables, considered outside the varna system) at the lowest stratum.

class in Hindu society

official designations given to various groups of indigenous people in India

In Hindu culture, the term gotra (Sanskrit: गोत्र) is considered to be equivalent to lineage. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor or patriline. Generally, the gotra forms an exogamous unit, with marriage within the same gotra being regarded as incest and prohibited by custom. The name of the gotra can be used as a surname, but it is different from a surname and is strictly maintained because of its importance in marriages among Hindus, especially among castes. Pāṇini defines gotra as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram (IV. 1. 162), wh

Untouchability is a form of social institution that legitimises and enforces practices that are discriminatory, humiliating, exclusionary and exploitative against people belonging to certain social groups. Untouchability also refers to the condition of belonging to such groups, members of whom are historically called untouchables, outcastes, or archaically pariahs. Although comparable forms of discrimination are found all over the world, untouchability involving the caste system is largely unique to South Asia.

Sanskritisation (or Sanskritization) is a process through which individuals or communities belonging to certain castes and tribal groups adopt the culture, values, lifestyles, and ritual practices of the dominant upper castes, with the aim of attaining upward social mobility and an elevated social status within the hierarchical structure of caste system of India. The phenomenon bears resemblance to the sociological concept of "passing". The term Sanskritisation was popularised in the 1950s by Indian sociologist and anthropologist M. N. Srinivas.

Jāti is the term traditionally used to describe a cohesive group of people in the Indian subcontinent, like a caste, sub-caste, clan, tribe, or a religious sect. Each Jāti typically has an association with an occupation, geography or tribe. Different intrareligious beliefs (e.g. Vaishnavism or Smarthism or Shaivism) or linguistic groupings may also define some Jātis. The term is often translated approximately in English as caste.

term for socially or educationally disadvantaged group of people in India

tax imposed on the lower caste and untouchable Hindu women by the Kingdom of Tranvancore

military social classification used during the British Raj era

social system in South Asia

marriages between two people of separate existent formal and informal social stratification classifications in India

"Chauharmal" or "Chuharmal" or "Veer Chauharmal" was a folk hero who was later apotheosized by the members of Dusadh caste. The story of Chauharmal within Dusadh folklore is an empowering message which gives the Dalit community a sense of victory over upper caste Rajputs.

Indian government social justice agency

Act of the Parliament of India

Indian government social justice agency

overview of the traditional social stratification practiced by Indian Christians

India's social structure prior to the 1500s

Anti-Brahminism is a term used in opposition to caste based hierarchal social order which places Brahmins at its highest position. Initial expressions of Anti-Brahminism emerged from instances of pre-colonial opposition to the caste system in India, ideological influences during the colonial period, and from a colonialist Protestant Christian understanding of religion in the 19th century, which viewed "Brahminism" as a corrupted religion imposed on the Indian population.

term used in Indian politics

National Commission

Indian constitutional body